Rock n Roll Bride - The ultimate guide for alternative brides

DIY

A Blue-tiful Mess

Kat

October 10, 2009

As soon as I laid eyes on this beautiful bride in her STUNNING blue dress I knew I had to share and after speaking to Chloe herself and getting all the hot gossip and details from the day, well I couldn't resist but to post these immediately. Take it away Chloe... We got married at Junior Ranks Mess on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and didn't actually have a theme - I am far too eclectic to pick a just one and definitely even less likely to find one my hubby would have agreed with! I basically chose everything I liked and knew it wouldn't match but it would make sense to everyone who knew Kevin & I, because we are both such open and free people. We chose blue as a color but did not limit it to any particular shade or tone, and the result was a beautiful mess of all colors of blue imaginable - it was a huge hit with the wedding party and guests and took so much stress out of planning (who wants to have to order swatches?) Decor was came to under $100 - I hand folded 200 tissue pompoms to hang, hand folded 300 paper cherry blossoms for bouquets, centrepieces and ceremony decor and Kevin hung 300 blue and white balloons. Even the candles and vases were dollar store and I don't have any leftover because people went crazy for them and brought them all home! We did everything possible it seems to drive my traditional in laws crazy - we asked for money instead of gifts, we served hor d'hoeuves instead of a dinner, I had a bridesman, I designed a dress to showcase my ink when my father in law suggested I get a turtleneck gown to hide them (seriously!) Oh, and Kevin insisted on rocking the ceremony and marched in there to Sweet Child O Mine by VitaminStringQuartet, and we rocked right out of there to Dance,Dance by VitaminStringQuartet. I tried on traditional gowns but looked like I was playing dress up, so in the end I ordered my dream dress - I saw it on Project Runway season 1 years back and said "that will be my dress" (the white dress). I found a great seamstress on etsy AtelierTami in Greece, who made it for $120! It was exactly what I wanted - plain. I have enough skin decoration and planned on accessorizing on top of that! I got my blue, reception dress from Sarah Seven also on etsy. I had a beautiful birdcage veil made by another etsy artisan, 5eizen and got my shoes from Betsey Johnson (Vixen) but I added the shoe ruffles myself which I made. and Kevin bought his outfit at a skateboarding shop for under $100. My bridesmaids/men chose their own outfits, I told them blue and white and something you will wear again. I wanted them to look like themselves, since I chose them because I love them as they are. I want to give a shout out to all these amazing etsy sellers that I used: White Gown by AtelierTami Blue, reception dress by Sarah Seven Birdcage Veil by 5eizen Gloves by Creonodo Shrug by LolaShowGirl Bouquet by YandeBridal Corsages, Boutonnieres and pompoms by CocoCupcakes Earrings by SweetLobe Thanks to the lovely Chloe & Kevin for sharing their blue-tiful (!) day with us! Credit: Flickr (photographed by a friend of the couple)
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A Day Dreamy, Whimsical Picnic Wedding

Kat

October 7, 2009

Jenna & Michael had a fabulously quirky, kiiky and personally rockin' wedding two weeks ago and the every lovely Love Me Do photography were there to capture the entire thing. The couple put a lot of work into the day with DIY projects a-plenty. "We wanted our wedding to be very classic looking, but still have a whimsical picnic, day dreamy kind of day feeling” the couple explained and they certainly acheived this goal with ideas such as the wishing tree - handmade bird silhouettes pinned into flocks and hung from the branches - which was used instead of a guestbook and the funky chocolate mouschases that certainly made for some great pictures and were provided by Pink, White, Brown. Jenna looked the perfect rock n roll bride in her Alvina Valenta dress and hairpeice from Liaison on Etsy. The bridesmaids dresses were the stunning Vivien Leigh dress by Siri in which they all looks quite the rockabilly princesses! Like these images? Well if you are about to book your wedding photographer then STOP. Hold on a few days and wait until I launch my next contest on Monday... I am terrible at keeping secrets it would seem but it may just be my best ever. Eeek...My lips are sealed. Thanks to Carina & Amanda as always for the gorgeousness and to Jenna & Mike for all the wonderful details. Credit: Love Me Do Photography
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Quirky & Creative

Kat

October 1, 2009

Tyson & Courtney are a quirky and creative couple and so what else would be perfect for their wedding than what full of quirks and creating! The event took place at the house and yards of The Dana Powers House in Nipomo, where the couple made the day their own with all the personal touches. Thanks to the lovely Beth for sharing these with me and yes I am waiting to hear who made the dress right now! Fret not... Credit: Bath Armsheimer Photography
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Made To Measure

Kat

September 30, 2009

Evita & Micheal had a very uniquely styled wedding and 'day after shoot' (which actually took place 4 months after the wedding but who's counting?) The whole glorious wedding is featured in the Fall issue of Weddings Unveiled Magazine (and will be on their blog, Completely Unveiled, later this week) but I was over the moon when Evita asked if I would like to share their American Gothic style photo shoot too. I fell in love with the fashion. Her fabulous dress, made from a slightly altered vintage Vogue Pattern (8416) with silk from Clarence House even had a matching corset which she wore underneath! Her feather hat was from Frock of Ages and those amazing customised shoes by Andrew Geller, originally from Stefan's Vintage Clothing and quite frankly to die for. Evita explained: I had them resoled at Peter & Sons in South Windermere shopping center. Insoles and toe embellishments done by me. Sterling acorn brooches were purchased on eBay. Swarovski hot fix rhinestones are olivine Thanks to Evita & Michael for sharing their shoot and details with us. I can not wait to see the whole wedding in Weddings Unveiled Magazine soon! Credit: Stacey Bode Photography
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A Geeky, Offbeat, Tea Party, Country Wedding!

Kat

September 28, 2009

Right now, well what can I say that could possibly live up to these? The very lovely Rosalie of the Tea and Whimsy blog booked my buddy David McNeil for her wedding to James last month. She has gone over all the details, budget saving tricks (they only spent about £4000 on the whole thing!) and DIY gems on her site, but I'm just here to share the swoonfest that is these photographs...oh and to draw your attention to her freakin' awesome bouquet! Yes those are real (dyed) roses!
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Thursday Treats – 24th Sept 2009

Kat

September 24, 2009

As you may have noticed I've tweeked the layout of the posts slightly this week. Now, you'll just get one preview image for each article and if you want to see the rest you just need to click 'read the the rest of this entry'. The idea behind it is to not only make the front page look a lot cleaner, but it means the pages will load a lot faster. My hubby/web designer was trying to make me cut down on how many images I posted to compensate for the slow page load time - now that wasn't gonna happen was it!? Apart from that don't forget that the awesome TokyoMade contest is still open. You have until tomorrow to tell me which right if your favourite and why. Come on, you know you want it! That's all I really have to report around Rock n Roll Bride HQ right now..let's see what the rest of blog land has been up to this week shall we?
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Bowled Away

Kat

September 22, 2009

Jessica & Nik had a completely KICK ASS (and that had to be in capitals because I am literally shouting that as I write!) wedding at Northbowl in Philadelphia. The couple, who love all things rockabilly, kitsch and retro - certainly put all of themselves into their freakin' awesome day. This is one of those weddings that is certainly going to do the rounds of Blog-Land so I am honoured that Amanda & Carina have elected Rock n Roll Bride to be the first blog to share them! As artists (Jessica a graphic designer and printmaker and Nik an illustrator) they were certainly the perfect pair to pull off such a stylish gathering. Jessica even made the adorable fawn cake topper to accompany the cupcakes (supplied by Brown Betty) herself! For the frames they scoured TJ Maxx (TKMaxx if you're in the UK like me!) and Michael'sand spray painted them themselves Jessica's dress was from Vivien of Holloway, she made her own red shrug (swoon!) and her hair piece was from House of Telsa on Etsy. Nik wore a suit from J Crew and a wicked tie from Cyberoptix TieLab. These two certainly are doing it for the girls. What a fantastic day! Thanks, as ever to the faaaaabulous Amanda & Carina for sending me the images and info. Love you guys! ps If the photos below aren't enough for you, then be sure to go check out Love Me Do's flickr - super yum! Credit: Love Me Do Photography
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Childhood Sweethearts

Kat

September 20, 2009

I have been looking forward to seeing Hannah & Alex's wedding ever since I saw their school yard engagements and the bridal shoot to be used for their stag/hen/bachelor/ette parties invites. I first spoke to Hannah about 6 months ago when she forwarded me some of the work of her sister and photographer, Kelty and I have been nuts about it every since. I have been lucky enough to become good online friends with Kelty so I was over the moon when she sent me a sneak peek of the wedding photographs after the day.Credit: Steep Street Photography
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DIY Ideas From Off White Weddings

Kat

September 14, 2009

Firstly I wanted to say that Rock n Roll Bride has been nominated for a Blog Award! I'm pretty excited as it's the first one I've ever been considered for. I don't know who nominated me but if it was you thanks so much! I would super duper appreciate it if you took 2 seconds to click this link and vote for me! Secondly behold another new series - oh yes. The very gorgeous Hillary from Off White Wedding contacted me a few weeks ago to see if I would be interested in sharing some of her DIY ideas with you all. After seeing her faaabulous snap station and trifle buffet on The Bride's Cafe there was no way I was going to refuse! Hillary has put together a little tutorial to show you how you can make your very own birdcage veil. I hope you enjoy it!
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Love, Love Me Do…

Kat

September 14, 2009

Courtney & Justin had an eco friendly wedding at The Old Mill in Rose Valley, PA. We were amazed with the subtle natural aesthetic and the charming vintage vibe. It is a historic mill that sits in a rhododendron-lined woodland valley right alongside Ridley Creek the couple explained. For the first 3 months of wedding planning, I scoured the internet looking to purchase for anything wedding related – used dresses, used décor, you name it! I hit the jackpot when a bride from Philadelphia posted an ad on Craigslist selling all the décor used in her “Rustic Vintage” wedding. I bought all of her wedding decorations, including: • Vintage mason jars, antique medicine bottles, and painted metal charger plates used for the table centerpieces. • Green and brown ribbon boards (a DIY project) which were used to hold the place cards • Metal lanterns which our florist used to create an amazing display of artistic genius (see Flowers, below) • Hand crafted table numbers made from framed wooden numbers on a fabric backing I loved the glass and metal and DIY spirit of the décor – it fit our style perfectly, it fit our color scheme perfectly, and it was an eco-friendly reuse of someone else’s wedding items! In fact, we are planning to sell the décor items so that another eco-conscious bride can reuse it all for her own wedding. It’s exciting to think that those items will create happiness for another bride! Courtney's dress was from Adele Wechsler’s line of eco-friendly dresses. Initially she discovered she couldn't afford her perfect dress but lucky for her at Philadelphia's UnBridaled Expo Adele was giving away a gift certificate for one of her dresses and guess who won!? Clearly it was meant to be. The succulents they used were bought from a local garden centre and were put together with moss and flowers collected from various friend's gardens to give a unique and natural look. For all the rest of their eco details, be sure to check outLove Me Do's Blog, (thank you to Amanda & Carina for sharing as usual!) but for now...
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Steampunk Victorian Beach on a Budget

Kat

September 13, 2009

If you want to see some of the most beautiful floral details and centrepieces ever plus some pretty damn stunning beach portraits then you've certainly come to the right place! Meghann & Edwin planned their Steampunk-Victorian-Beach-on a budget wedding with help from all their friends and family - DIY was the name of the game! I am totally in love with all their decor ideas and the beautiful floral details - this wedding proves that you can make anything look bloody amazing if you have the time and patience to do it yourself. They spent only about $200 on flowers and decor and went to The LA Flower Market the day before to get the blooms. Meghann explained:
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Glam Rock

Kat

September 8, 2009

Aww pretty pretty sparkle dress! Faith sure looks rock n roll glam on her wedding day back in April! It's not only the dress that I love - her faux tats are super cute and the peacock feathers instead of a traditional floral bouquet are of course stunning. Her one of a kind, custom dress was designed and made by Marelize from Gingered in South Africa. The gown was based on Jenny Packham's Papillon dress, but being in South Africa getting hold of the origianl proved too difficult so Faith decided to get her own version made. Marelize even spent over 45 hours hand sewing on all the beads on the bodice - wow...Glam rock on! Thanks to Faith for not only sending me her images but for sharing all this fab info - a true Rock n Roll Bride!
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The Wedding Of The Year

Kat

August 27, 2009

I am not the most patient of people and when photographer David McNeil told me about Caroline & Callum's upcoming wedding at the beginning of this year I was already dying to see the results. The couple not only found David through Rock n Roll Bride but Caroline proceeded to tease me with regular email updates on their wedding planning gorgeousness - from her amazing David Fielden dress to her perfect Vivienne Westwood shoes (I loved them so much I even attempted to make my own Rock n Roll Bride version!)
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Quirky, Colourful, Kitsch

Kat

August 25, 2009

I am crazy in love with Tanya & Mark's amazingly colourful DIY wedding! The event took place in Tanya's parent's backyard in Northampton, PA and totally reflected the couple's quirky, colourful, kitschy nature. They really put 100% of themselves into the day. Tanya made the invitations, the felt flowers, the centrepieces and most of the decorations herself and all of the tables were covered with unique vintage fabric sourced from various places throughout the wedding planning. One of my favourite details had got to be the pink flamingos everywhere though! Tanya says she has a slight obsession with John Waters so this detail was a must! Tanya found her and her Bridesmaid's dress from Ebay and her amazing red birdcage veil from Events and Occasions. Her shoes were from Modcloth and her red petticoat was found at Unique Vintage. Thanks to Tanya and Mark for sharing their day and all the gorgeous details with us! Credit: Matt Stanley
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